
The sun is shining, and the local produce is fresh and vibrant!
But, why is eating local beneficial? If you want to eat fresh, you need to eat local! Aside from supporting the community, the food actually is fresher. If a food item is grown in the U.S., it may travel 5 days to reach a distribution center before ending up in a store; if it is harvested from outside the U.S. and travels by refrigerated ship, the travel time could be several weeks. The longer the duration from harvest to consumption, the greater the losses. Produce picked at its ripest point with minimal travel time will yield a better tasting and more nutrient-rich food. This is why eating local means eating the freshest possible food.
The selection of foods available locally varies by farm and time within the harvest season. Commonly available foods might include berries, leafy greens, peppers, beans, melons, cherries, asparagus, beets, radishes, carrots, peaches, and squash.
Fresh, local produce is often featured at local markets such as The Common Market, MOM’s Organic Market, Wegmans and even in smaller quantities at Giant. Additionally, you can seek out freshly picked items at any of the following farmers’ markets per Homegrownfrederick.com. If you are not local to Frederick, you can search for a market near you:https://www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/farmersmarkets
Market/Dates |
Location |
Hours |
Emmitsburg
June 22-September 21, 2018 |
302 S. Seton Ave. Emmitsburg | Fridays
3:00pm-6:00pm |
Farmers Markets at NCI
April 10-October 30, 2018 |
Parking Lot in front of NCI Cafe/Scientific Library
NCI-Frederick Located on Ft. Detrick (open to the public) |
Tuesdays
10:30am-1:00pm |
Frederick City
May 13-November 18, 2018 |
Old Carmack Jays Parking Lot
331 N. Market St, Frederick |
Sundays
9:00am-1:00pm |
Frederick Farmers Market
April 28-November 17, 2018 |
Wolf Furniture Parking Lot
1215 West Patrick St, Frederick |
Saturdays
10:00am-1:00pm |
Frederick Farmers Market at
Eveready Square & Shab Row May 31-September 27, 2018 |
Downtown Frederick
113 North East Street, Frederick Church St & East St, Frederick |
Thursdays
3:00pm-6:00pm |
Field Fresh Farmers Market
April 28-November 17, 2018 Holiday Markets: December 1, 8, 15 |
Frederick Fairgrounds
797 E. Patrick St, Frederick |
Saturdays
9:00am-1:00pm |
Friends of Frederick
May 20 -November, 2018 |
1 Wormans Mill Court, Frederick | Saturdays
10:00am-2:00pm |
Grace Farmers Market
May 19-November 17, 2018 |
649 Himes Rd, Frederick | Fridays
3:00pm-6:00pm |
Jefferson
April 4-September 12, 2018 |
Jefferson Ruritan Center
4603 Lander Rd, Jefferson |
Wednesdays
4:00pm-7:00pm |
Key City Food & Farm Market
May- October |
121 N. Bentz St, Frederick | Fridays
10:00am-1:00pm |
Lake Linganore
June 7 – August 23, 2018 |
6718 Coldstream Drive, New Market | Thursdays
4:00p-7:00pm |
Middletown
May 3-October 11, 2018 |
Christ Reformed Church Parking Lot
12 S. Church St, Middletown |
Thursdays
4:00pm-7:00pm |
Myersville
April 14 – October 27, 2018 |
301 Main St, Myersville | Saturdays
9:00am-12:00pm |
Thurmont
June 2-September 22, 2018 |
Municipal Parking Lot
South Center St, Thurmont |
Saturdays
9:00am-12:00pm
|
Urbana Library
May 20-October 28, 2018 |
Urbana Regional Library
9020 Amelung St, Frederick |
Sundays
11:00am-2:00pm |
Walkersville
June 9- August 11, 2017 |
Walkersville Volunteer Fire Department | Fridays
4:00pm-7:00pm |
YMCA of Frederick County
May 22-October 30, 2018 |
YMCA of Frederick County
1000 N. Market St, Frederick |
Tuesdays
3:30pm-6:30pm |
Alternatively, you could choose to participate in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. A CSA is a relationship between the farmer and the consumer whereby you invest an up-front amount in exchange for a portion of the harvest through the season, and you both share the risk. The portion sizes purchased can vary and may include full or half shares. There are several CSA programs out there, including those at Thanksgiving Farms as well as the Big White Barn. Additionally, some of these venues are open to selling their produce harvested directly to the consumer without participating in the farmers’ market.
Eating with the seasons can present a wonderful opportunity to expand your culinary horizons. Maybe you pick up a vegetable that you’ve never seen before. Or maybe you seek a different way to prepare corn. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong. Take a chance and explore your food, you never know the surprises which await you!